NESN.com » Stephen Hewitthttp://nesn.com
Sports News | Red Sox, Bruins, Patriots, CelticsTue, 03 Mar 2015 20:34:29 +0000enhourly1http://wordpress.com/http://1.gravatar.com/blavatar/b78db9f8695b57fe74bb269068791bb4?s=96&d=http%3A%2F%2Fs2.wp.com%2Fi%2Fbuttonw-com.png » Stephen Hewitthttp://nesn.com
Robert Griffin III Dedicates Season to 13-Year-Old Redskins Fan With Prosthetic Leg (Photos)http://nesn.com/2013/08/robert-griffin-iii-dedicates-season-to-13-year-old-redskins-fan-with-prosthetic-leg-photos/
http://nesn.com/2013/08/robert-griffin-iii-dedicates-season-to-13-year-old-redskins-fan-with-prosthetic-leg-photos/#commentsFri, 16 Aug 2013 19:03:19 +0000http://nesn.com/?p=217424]]>With only one season under his belt, Robert Griffin III has become something of a symbol of hope for the Washington Redskins. The quarterback led the Redskins to their first playoff appearance since 2007, was named NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year and, just seven months after tearing ACL and LCL in his right knee, is already back on the practice field.

His impact and inspiration is no doubt large, so it’s not necessarily surprising what happened Wednesday at Redskins training camp. Nonetheless, it was still pretty cool.

On Wednesday, Griffin had the chance to meetRico Felix, a 13-year-old Redskins fan who seems to be a big fan of the star quarterback. Felix was born with his umbilical cord wrapped around his right leg, and he has worn a prosthetic ever since. It’s not just any prosthetic leg, though — the one Felix wears has a likeness of Griffin’s head emblazoned on it.

So, when Griffin met the young man Wednesday, he was understandably at a loss for words.

“I’m speechless,” Griffin said upon seeing the leg, according to CBSSports.com. “I don’t know what I can say about that, except that it’s an honor.”

Griffin signed Felix’s leg Wednesday, but he also went one step further — he dedicated the 2013 Redskins season to him.

“We’re gonna do it this year,” Griffin said as he shook hands with Felix. “We’re gonna do it for you.”

Rico, who has to regularly get a new prosthetic leg as his bones grow, said he was inspired by Griffin, who recovered quickly from the injuries he sustained to return.

“He … he’s inspiring,” Felix said before meeting Griffin. “When he got his leg surgery, it reminded me of me. See, as I grow, my bone grows, so I have to have a surgery. But he inspired me to get back up on my feet after I had surgery.”

Filed under: Headlines, NFL, Stephen Hewitt]]>http://nesn.com/2013/08/robert-griffin-iii-dedicates-season-to-13-year-old-redskins-fan-with-prosthetic-leg-photos/feed/001376675547_griffinnesnstaffOne-Handed Basketball Star Picks Up Preferred Walk-On Offer From University of Florida (Video)http://nesn.com/2013/08/one-handed-basketball-star-picks-up-preferred-walk-on-offer-from-university-of-florida-video/
http://nesn.com/2013/08/one-handed-basketball-star-picks-up-preferred-walk-on-offer-from-university-of-florida-video/#commentsFri, 16 Aug 2013 17:15:53 +0000http://nesn.com/?p=217364]]>Zach Hodskins isn’t letting anything stop him from achieving his dreams, not even being born with just one hand.

Hodskins, who has starred in high school for Alpharetta (Ga.) Milton School despite having just one hand, picked up an offer Thursday from the University of Florida as a preferred walk-on, according to Yahoo! Sports. If Hodskins chooses to accept the offer, he could play for the Gators starting in the 2014-15 season.

Hodskins has impressed scouts and on-lookers on the prep basketball circuit with his stunning ball-handling and 3-point shooting ability. One recruiting website even tabbed Hodskins as the most impressive prospect at the recent ScoutsFocus All-American Camp in Charlottesville, Va., in June.

Hodskins was born with a defect in his left arm, which is cut at the elbow. Clearly, however, that hasn’t stopped him, and it’s easy to see how. Check out a highlight video of the one-handed star below.

Filed under: College Basketball, Headlines, High School, Stephen Hewitt]]>http://nesn.com/2013/08/one-handed-basketball-star-picks-up-preferred-walk-on-offer-from-university-of-florida-video/feed/001376666161_hodskinsnesnstaffAdam Scully-Power Runs 163 Miles Without Sleep to Honor Boston Marathon Victims, Raises More Than $26,000http://nesn.com/2013/08/adam-scully-power-runs-163-miles-without-sleep-to-honor-boston-marathon-victims-raises-more-than-26000/
http://nesn.com/2013/08/adam-scully-power-runs-163-miles-without-sleep-to-honor-boston-marathon-victims-raises-more-than-26000/#commentsFri, 16 Aug 2013 15:09:22 +0000http://nesn.com/?p=217338]]>From Friday, Aug. 2 at 5:45 a.m. to Saturday, Aug. 3 at 11:18 p.m., he just kept running and running, all the way from Wellesley to Provincetown. He didn’t stop once, not even to sleep.

Adam Scully-Power did it all with one mission in mind — to honor the victims of the Boston Marathon bombings the best way he knew how.

So he ran — 163 miles in 41 hours and 33 minutes, to be exact. All the way, his family — wife, brother, father and father-in-law — drove behind him with water, food and a change of clothes. It was all the support he needed.

“It was two sunrises, two sunsets and lots of running and no sleep,” Scully-Power said to USA Today. “Slowly but surely trucked through and covered the distance.”

A year ago, the whole thing seemed unlikely. Then, Scully-Power was 50 pounds heavier than he is now. But then he watched a documentary called “Forks over Knives,” which promotes healthy eating. That was the first step. Then, he started running. Six weeks later, he was running 12-13 miles a day, but that was nothing compared to his next challenge.

One day in December, Scully-Power ran into his friend, David Green, who is an ultramarathoner, at a Starbucks. The two chatted, and Green urged his friend to try an ultramarathon with him. At first, Scully-Power thought he was “insane.”

But eventually, he gave in. In February, Scully-Power ran 110 miles in 24 hours and 38 minutes. It all didn’t seem “insane” anymore, and he wanted to do another, so he signed up to run another in May.

But then the unfathomable happened. On April 15, the day of the Boston Marathon, two bombs exploded near the finish line. Green was there. Scully-Power texted him to make sure his friend was OK, which he was.

In the midst of the chaos, however, Green took a picture of the scene before going off to help victims. He later sent it to the FBI to help its investigation, but little did he know that the photo provided a “crystal clear” image of accused bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev walking away from the scene.

The photo was ground-breaking for the investigation, but its impact didn’t stop there. For Scully-Power, it was the inspiration to his 163-mile trek across Massachusetts.

“It was a sign it was meant to be,” he said.

Scully-Power was determined. In the days following the marathon, he found out about the Pan-Mass Challenge from a co-worker. The event is designed to be a bike-a-thon, but Scully-Power had other ideas — he wanted to run it. So he emailed the race director.

“I think he thought I was crazy,” Scully-Power said.

The rest is history. Scully-Power, 39, trained and trained, even running to his son’s lacrosse games 20 miles away instead of driving as part of his regimen.

In the end, it was more than worth it. Scully-Power raised over $26,000 — more than his $25,000 goal — through his website whywerun.com.

“It fundamentally changes your perspective of what’s possible in all facets of your life,” Scully-Power said. “So what’s next? I’m not sure, but there will be something.”

Filed under: Boston Marathon, Headlines, Stephen Hewitt]]>http://nesn.com/2013/08/adam-scully-power-runs-163-miles-without-sleep-to-honor-boston-marathon-victims-raises-more-than-26000/feed/001376662042_scullypowernesnstaff1376662042_scullypowerJonny Gomes, John Lackey Unhappy With Alex Rodriguez Playing, Affecting Playoff Racehttp://nesn.com/2013/08/jonny-gomes-john-lackey-unhappy-with-alex-rodriguez-playing-affecting-playoff-race/
http://nesn.com/2013/08/jonny-gomes-john-lackey-unhappy-with-alex-rodriguez-playing-affecting-playoff-race/#commentsFri, 16 Aug 2013 13:12:26 +0000http://nesn.com/?p=217329]]>For the first time since the Biogenesis scandal broke, Alex Rodriguez is in Boston and will suit up for the Yankees on Friday night at Fenway Park as they open up a three-game set with the Red Sox. That doesn’t sit well with a couple of Red Sox players.

Rodriguez has been cleared to play for the remainder of the season while he appeals the 211-game suspension that was handed down to him as part of Major League Baseball’s takedown of players involved in the Biogenesis scandal. As a result, Rodriguez can very much affect the standings of the AL East as the playoff race is heating up. Red Sox outfielder Jonny Gomes is one person in the Boston clubhouse who isn’t too thrilled with that.

“I don’t think so, to tell you the truth,” Gomes said Thursday when asked if he thinks it’s fair that A-Rod gets to play, according to the Boston Herald. “I can imagine being the pitcher, just knowing this guy is on or has done steroids. That’s not an equal battle right there. Good thing I don’t pitch. It doesn’t make much sense that he’s still playing.”

One person who does pitch, however, is Sox starter John Lackey. The righty has faced A-Rod multiple times in his career, including his major league debut in 2002, when Rodriguez, then with the Rangers, took him yard for one of his 57 home runs that season.

Years later, A-Rod admitted to using performance-enhancing drugs that season. To this day, Lackey has an ax to grind with the Yankees third baseman, who Lackey thinks shouldn’t be playing right now.

“I’ve got a problem with it. You bet I do,” Lackey said Thursday, according to The Boston Globe. “How is he still playing? He obviously did something and he’s playing. I’m not sure that’s right. … It’s pretty evident he’s been doing stuff for a lot of years I’ve been facing him.”

Lackey said it’s a topic of discussion often in the Red Sox clubhouse.

“Sure, we talk about it,” he said. “But talking to the media about it is a little bit different. People have strong feelings. He took me deep the first time I faced him as a rookie and he admitted to doing stuff back then. There are a lot of things I want back from him.”

Lackey will face Rodriguez when he takes the hill Saturday.

Filed under: Boston Red Sox, Headlines, New York Yankees, Stephen Hewitt]]>http://nesn.com/2013/08/jonny-gomes-john-lackey-unhappy-with-alex-rodriguez-playing-affecting-playoff-race/feed/00Alex RodrigueznesnstaffAlex RodriguezDez Bryant Would Be ‘Mad’ at NCAA If Johnny Manziel Isn’t Suspended, Says College Players Should Be Paidhttp://nesn.com/2013/08/dez-bryant-would-be-mad-at-ncaa-if-johnny-manziel-isnt-suspended-says-college-players-should-be-paid/
http://nesn.com/2013/08/dez-bryant-would-be-mad-at-ncaa-if-johnny-manziel-isnt-suspended-says-college-players-should-be-paid/#commentsWed, 14 Aug 2013 03:50:05 +0000http://nesn.com/?p=216228]]>There are many strong opinions about Johnny Manziel these days, but no one may be able to relate more to the controversial Texas A&M quarterback than Dez Bryant.

The Dallas Cowboys wide receiver was in a similar spot as Manziel when he was at Oklahoma State. Coming off a strong sophomore season for the Cowboys, many considered Bryant to be a Heisman Trophy candidate heading into his junior year. But four games in, the star receiver was ruled ineligible after failing to disclose an “interaction” he had with Deion Sanders, which turned out to be a legal dinner.

Now, Manziel is under fire for reportedly receiving money in exchange for signing autographs, jeopardizing his college football career. And, unsurprisingly, Bryant has some strong opinions on the matter. On Tuesday, he told reporters he would be “mad” if Manziel isn’t suspended, according to the Ft. Worth Star-Telegram.

“Hell yeah, I’ll be mad,” Bryant said. “I will be mad. But I don’t want him to get suspended. I will be mad more at the NCAA on how they do things. I just feel like it’s not fair. This is something I have no problem talking about because I feel like somebody needs to say something to him and let it be known how they treat people is not right.”

Bryant didn’t hold back on talking about his own situation either, saying he lied to the NCAA about his “interaction” with Sanders while at OSU.

“I did lie. I came back. I told the truth and they suspended me indefinitely,” Bryant said. “The way the guy was talking to me was like I did something wrong. I didn’t know it was OK for me to go to someone’s house.

“So I got scared and I lied,” he continued. “I feel like if anybody else was in my position they probably would have done the same.”

He also says that college athletes should be paid for their services.

“I feel like they should,” Bryant said. “I feel like players in the NCAA should. Those fans are coming out to watch them and support them. When they’re in college, it’s different. You don’t get paid like the NFL get paid. I think what would be OK would be to have just a little bit of money in your pocket. It’s hard in college. You’ve got to get a job [in the offseason] if you can. You’ve got to practice. It’s just hard. Sometimes the training table is just not good enough.”

Filed under: College Football, Headlines, NFL, Stephen Hewitt]]>http://nesn.com/2013/08/dez-bryant-would-be-mad-at-ncaa-if-johnny-manziel-isnt-suspended-says-college-players-should-be-paid/feed/00Dez BryantnesnstaffDez BryantLeBron James Gives Back, Models Brand New Football Uniforms for St. Vincent-St. Mary High School (Photos)http://nesn.com/2013/08/lebron-james-gives-back-models-brand-new-football-uniforms-for-akron-high-school-photos/
http://nesn.com/2013/08/lebron-james-gives-back-models-brand-new-football-uniforms-for-akron-high-school-photos/#commentsWed, 14 Aug 2013 02:36:19 +0000http://nesn.com/?p=216185]]>If you’ve been wondering how good of a football player LeBron James could be, you can at least visualize it now.

The Miami Heat star unveiled brand new football uniforms for his alma mater, St. Vincent-St. Mary High School in Akron, over the weekend as part of his second annual “I Promise Family Reunion,” an event for the LeBron James Family Foundation. The program, which includes 700 students, provides them with a full back-to-school kit — including a bike, helmet, school uniform and backpack tags — after completion of a two-week pro-education camp.

It’s all a small part of James’ mission to give back. Thanks to James — who led the basketball team to three state championships at the high school and was named all-state in football during his time there — every sport will receive new uniforms at St. Vincent-St. Mary, and the school will receive a $1 million gym upgrade this winter.

“I don’t really put a title on it,” James said of his charity. “I do it because I have a passion. I do it because I want to do it. It’s not because someone came to me and said, ‘You should do this because you owe it to them.’ It’s something that was instilled in me to give back. This is my city, there’s 190,000 of us. For me to be one of the few to make it, it wasn’t hard at all.”

Of course, the photos don’t mean we can expect James to pursue an NFL career — one Cowboys wide receiver Dez Bryantthinks he would be “beast” at — any time soon, but it certainly helps our imagination.

Nordstrand, a forward for Nordsjaelland of the Danish Superliga, put in a bid for goal of the year with the strike against reigning league champion Copenhagen.

In the game’s 83rd minute, Nordstrand received a long pass — estimated at about 40 yards away — and put the ball in the back of the net in stunning style. With his back to the goal, he rose up and struck the ball over his head and past the opposing goalkeeper. The goal gave his team the late equalizer and, unsurprisingly, has gone viral on the Internet.

Everything seems to have gone downhill for Canucks goaltender Roberto Luongo since losing to the Bruins in the 2011 Stanley Cup Final. Since then, he has suffered an injury, lost his starting job and has not been traded despite the fact that it appeared he was expecting to be before this season’s trade deadline.

Now, it seems that the fallen star can’t even drive anywhere — at least for the time being.

The goaltender took to Twitter on Tuesday afternoon to share that the tires on his SUV had been stolen. What’s more, it appears that the theft also occurred in the driveway of his own home.

The robbery evokes memories of the back-and-forth between Luongo and then-Bruins goaltender Tim Thomas during the 2011 Stanley Cup Final, when Luongo complained that Thomas hadn’t said any nice things about him all series. Thomas fired back, famously saying, “I didn’t realize it was my job to pump his tires.”

Now, there appear to be no tires to pump. Check out a photo of Luongo’s SUV — sans tires — in the tweet below.

The Jets running back, whose camp has included showing up out of shape, failing a conditioning test and getting arrested for outstanding traffic warrants, had another rough day at the office at the team’s practice on Monday. McKnight reportedly had to stop three times on his way to the field for practice and was then tended to by trainers after he was forced to bend down on one knee. To make matters worse, he was then cleared to practice only to be carted off the field after getting injured during a passing drill.

McKnight’s odd day was only getting started, though. After practice, he noticed a few critical messages sent to him via Twitter, and he decided to respond. The problem? McKnight thought he was challenging a Jets reporter, when it was actually just a fan.

In one message, McKnight asked “are you outside” to a critic, presumably challenging him to fight. A Jets spokesman later confirmed that the tweets indeed came from McKnight, whose account isn’t verified, and that he thought the criticism was coming from a media member.

Check out the strange tweets below.

Now I'm trying to keep my cool but now it has gone too far with these reporters. Just let y'all know I'm not the one. I know who you are

Filed under: Headlines, New York Jets, Stephen Hewitt]]>http://nesn.com/2013/08/joe-mcknight-challenges-twitter-critic-to-fight-tweets-are-you-outside-to-suspected-reporter/feed/00Joe McKnightnesnstaffStephen Drew Looks to Keep Hitting Streak Alive As Red Sox Open Series Against Blue Jayshttp://nesn.com/2013/08/stephen-drew-looks-to-keep-hitting-streak-alive-as-red-sox-open-series-against-blue-jays/
http://nesn.com/2013/08/stephen-drew-looks-to-keep-hitting-streak-alive-as-red-sox-open-series-against-blue-jays/#commentsTue, 13 Aug 2013 21:36:56 +0000http://nesn.com/?p=216040]]>Stephen Drew has at least one hit in each of his last 12 games, and that should be welcomed news for the Red Sox as they continue their 10-game road trip Tuesday night in Toronto.

Drew, who will hit seventh in the lineup against the Blue Jays, is batting .422 (19-for-45) with two home runs and nine RBIs during his 12-game hitting streak. He’s been even better recently against Toronto, posting a .444 average (4-for-9) with three extra-base hits in his last three games against the Jays.

Boston will also hope to get more production from Dustin Pedroia, who has teed off against Toronto pitching this season. In 13 games, he’s batting .389 — including .481 in his last seven games — with one home run and six RBIs.

Jarrod Saltalamacchia, who sat out Sunday’s series finale against Kansas City, will return to the lineup and hit eighth, and Will Middlebrooks will again get the start at third base and bat ninth against the Blue Jays, who will send right-hander Todd Redmond to the mound. Redmond, who was recently recalled from Triple-A Buffalo, is 1-1 with a 4.22 ERA this season.

The Red Sox will counter with Ryan Dempster as they try to bounce back from losing three out of four against the Royals. Dempster has struggled this season (6-8, 4.67 ERA), but he pitched well his last time out against the Blue Jays on June 30, when he gave up two runs in 5 1/3 innings, earning a no-decision in a 5-4 Boston victory.

Will Middlebrooks is set to be called up to the Red Sox from Triple-A Pawtucket on Saturday, according to WEEI.com’s Rob Bradford. In a corresponding move, Brandon Snyder will be moved to the 15-day disabled list.

Middlebrooks was optioned to Pawtucket on June 25 after a dismal first half with the Red Sox. The third baseman hit just .192 with nine home runs and 25 RBI, a far cry from his rookie season in 2012, when he hit .288. He did better for Pawtucket in 45 games there, batting .268 with 10 homers and 35 RBI.

The Red Sox have been operating under a platoon at third base between Snyder and Brock Holt since trading Jose Iglesias at the deadline, but neither has made a strong case to be the permanent starter. Snyder was hitting just .209 while Holt has hit .203 this season.

Since the Iglesias trade, many have hoped to see a Bogaerts promotion, and by all accounts, the 20-year-old seems to be worthy of one. He was promoted from Double-A Portland to Pawtucket in June, and he’s hit .275 with eight homers and 26 RBI in 49 games for the PawSox this season.

On Thursday, Sox president and CEO Larry Lucchino said he thinks the top prospect will get called up this season. Now, with less than two months left in the regular season, only time will tell if it will actually happen.

Rex Ryan, who has taken over duties running the defense this season, apparently wasn’t too interested in watching his signal-callers perform during New York’s preseason-opening 26-17 loss to the Lions on Friday night. Sanchez started the game and threw a pick-six to Detroit rookie Ziggy Ansah on the Jets’ fourth offensive play of the game, but don’t ask Ryan for the details.

“I never saw it,” Ryan said after the game, according to ESPN. “I caught the tail end of it.”

“I had my own issues on the other side, so I never really focused a whole lot while he was in there,” Ryan said. “We’ll see it on tape. You probably saw more plays than I did.”

If you’re still wondering, Sanchez went on to have a decent game. He finished 10-for-13 for 125 yards, one touchdown and the pick, while Smith went 6-for-7 for 47 yards before he left the game with some soreness in his ankle. Outside of Sanchez’s interception, neither quarterback really did much to hurt their chances of being the starter.

However, Ryan’s admission is stunning, if not predictable. In the future, it would probably be in his best interests to start paying attention to arguably the team’s biggest problem, or he may have some more of those “issues” he was talking about Friday.

Filed under: Headlines, New York Jets, NFL, Stephen Hewitt]]>http://nesn.com/2013/08/rex-ryan-never-saw-mark-sanchezs-pick-six-says-he-never-really-focused-on-watching-geno-smith/feed/00Rex RyannesnstaffRex RyanLeGarrette Blount Changes Direction, Navigates Through Eagles Defense for 51-Yard Touchdown Run (GIF)http://nesn.com/2013/08/legarrette-blount-changes-direction-navigates-through-eagles-defense-for-51-yard-touchdown-run-video/
http://nesn.com/2013/08/legarrette-blount-changes-direction-navigates-through-eagles-defense-for-51-yard-touchdown-run-video/#commentsSat, 10 Aug 2013 16:46:53 +0000http://nesn.com/?p=215072]]>It took a while, but LeGarrette Blount finally made it to the end zone.

The new Patriots running back was the star of the team’s preseason-opening 31-22 victory over the Eagles on Friday night, tallying 101 yards and two touchdowns on 11 carries. He picked up half of that yardage total on his first touchdown run.

With New England leading 17-14 late in the second quarter, Blount received a handoff from quarterback Ryan Mallett. The run play was designed to go left, but when Blount realized he had nowhere to go, he turned around and ran back toward midfield. He then used a screen from Mallett, cut back and rumbled his way down the left sideline before jumping into the end zone for the 51-yard score. Listed at 247 pounds, one can imagine it wasn’t easy for Blount to run so much on one play.

Check out Blount’s touchdown run in the GIF below, and read more about how Blount and the rest of the Patriots’ running backs shined in the preseason opener.

Filed under: Headlines, New England Patriots, Stephen Hewitt]]>http://nesn.com/2013/08/legarrette-blount-changes-direction-navigates-through-eagles-defense-for-51-yard-touchdown-run-video/feed/001376151214_blountnesnstaffblountSidney Crosby Gets Ushered to Front of Line at Pittsburgh DMV, Angers Some Localshttp://nesn.com/2013/08/sidney-crosby-gets-ushered-to-front-of-line-at-pittsburgh-dmv-angers-some-locals/
http://nesn.com/2013/08/sidney-crosby-gets-ushered-to-front-of-line-at-pittsburgh-dmv-angers-some-locals/#commentsSat, 10 Aug 2013 16:08:29 +0000http://nesn.com/?p=215063]]>For most, it’s the same old song and dance going to the local DMV. Long lines and long waits await those who need to renew their driver’s license or take their permit test, and there’s not much that can be done about it.

That is, of course, unless you’re a celebrity, like Penguins star Sidney Crosby.

On Friday, Crosby walked into a Pittsburgh-area DMV to renew his driver’s license, but he wasn’t there for long, according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. The forward was brought to the front of the line as he quickly finished his business and left. According to Pennsylvania DMV policy, celebrities are allowed to go to the front of the line if supervisors determine it would be beneficial to “keeping control and keeping disruptions to a minimum,” a spokeswoman for the DMV said.

Logically, it makes sense. If someone like Crosby were to walk in and wait hours like everyone else, it would likely create a frenzy of folks coming in to bombard him, which would slow down the DMV process even more.

“I think, with his popularity, he’s going to get inundated and it’s going to be totally disruptive if he’s not taken,” said Paula Miles, who was there helping her son earn his driver’s permit. “I’d rather have that than have a mob scene.”

But, not surprisingly, there were some people upset that Crosby was given the star treatment.

“I disapprove,” said Susan Campbell, who waited for 1 1/2 hours at the DMV on Friday. “He should have to sit and wait with everyone else.”

“He’s another person like everyone else,” said 16-year-old Jacob Davis, who passed his driving test to earn his license.

Truth be told, though, Crosby isn’t just another person. If his world-class hockey skills weren’t enough proof of that, Friday’s DMV cameo made sure of it.

The A’s outfielder was in the midst of an 0-for-19 slump heading into Friday’s contest against the Blue Jays. A first-inning ground out made it 0-for-20, but that was it.

Reddick responded with not one, not two, but three home runs in consecutive at-bats — which included his first career opposite-field blast — as the former Red Sox led Oakland to a 13-6 victory in Toronto. That’s certainly one way to end a slump.

Check out Reddick’s power surge in the video below.

Your browser does not support iframes.Filed under: Headlines, MLB, Stephen Hewitt, Video Non-NESN]]>http://nesn.com/2013/08/josh-reddick-breaks-0-for-20-slump-hits-three-home-runs-in-four-innings-against-blue-jays-video/feed/001376143335_reddicknesnstaffPaul Pierce Says Rajon Rondo’s Injury Set Off ‘Domino Effect’ in Breaking Up Celticshttp://nesn.com/2013/08/paul-pierce-says-rajon-rondos-injury-set-off-domino-effect-in-breaking-up-celtics/
http://nesn.com/2013/08/paul-pierce-says-rajon-rondos-injury-set-off-domino-effect-in-breaking-up-celtics/#commentsFri, 09 Aug 2013 19:21:07 +0000http://nesn.com/?p=214705]]>He may not like it, but as the days pass, it seems Paul Pierce is starting to get used to now being a Brooklyn Net. As a result, he’s opening up a little bit more.

The former Celtics captain was a guest Thursday on The Michael Kay Show, where he spoke about how his hatred for the Knicks has grown since the trade and that he thinks Nets-Knicks will be the best rivalry in sports next season. Now, new quotes are trickling in from the Nets forward about what the thought process was like in the time that led to the draft-night deal that sent him to Brooklyn — specifically, the role Rajon Rondo played in the process.

Rondo, who is still recovering from an ACL injury he sustained last season, has been the subject of trade rumors ever since Pierce, Kevin Garnett and Jason Terry were traded from Boston. For Pierce, however, it all started back when Rondo went down with his torn ACL in January. As Pierce described it, Rondo’s injury began a chain reaction of events that ultimately resulted in Pierce leaving Beantown after 15 years with the Celtics.

“It would be hard to contend,” Pierce said in an exclusive interview with the Boston Herald on Friday. “I saw the vision. I saw all that. As a player, I’m selfish. I want what’s going to be good for me and the team. But you’ve got to look at the management looking at what’s down the road. If it’s up to me I would want to rebuild to win a championship by bringing players in. They were looking at the future, down the line.

“Rajon might not be here for the beginning of the year or however long he takes, so it would be tough for us to be a contender or get into a position to contend. Everybody saw that and I think that helped the decision on both sides.”

That much was clear after Rondo went down in January. The point guard’s injury gave the Celtics virtually no chance to contend for a title, and they were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs by the Knicks in six games. Doc Rivers then left to become head coach of the Clippers, and Danny Ainge pulled the plug with the trade about a week later.

“It was like a domino effect,” Pierce said. “It was like [the Rondo injury] was there and then Doc. When you put all that stuff together, you know the writing was on the wall.”

Filed under: Boston Celtics, Headlines, Stephen Hewitt]]>http://nesn.com/2013/08/paul-pierce-says-rajon-rondos-injury-set-off-domino-effect-in-breaking-up-celtics/feed/00Paul PiercenesnstaffPaul PierceBYU Coach Bronco Mendenhall Alters Nameplates on Jerseys, Changes Mind After Players Find Out (Photo)http://nesn.com/2013/08/byu-football-coach-alters-nameplates-on-jerseys-changes-mind-after-surprised-players-find-out-photo/
http://nesn.com/2013/08/byu-football-coach-alters-nameplates-on-jerseys-changes-mind-after-surprised-players-find-out-photo/#commentsFri, 09 Aug 2013 18:30:40 +0000http://nesn.com/?p=214623]]>BYU football players were welcomed with an unsuspecting surprise when they arrived at their lockers for team photo day on Thursday afternoon.

Head coach Bronco Mendenhall thought it would be a good idea to honor the values of the football program in a unique way, so he decided to alter the players’ jersey nameplates — which traditionally included last names — to accommodate his plans. Instead of seeing their last name on the back of their jersey, players got to their lockers Thursday with either the word “tradition,” “spirit” or “honor” printed on their nameplates. And, well, they weren’t happy about it.

Within hours, after hearing reaction from his team about the change, Mendenhall changed his mind and announced that the special nameplates would only be used for the team’s homecoming game. That’s quite a turnaround, and probably a logical one, as well.

Check out a photo of the nameplates and some reaction from players, below, with a hat tip to Jay Drew of The Salt Lake Tribune.

The Dallas Mavericks owner was a guest on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno on Thursday, and he was asked about the 211-game suspension — which the Yankees third baseman is appealing — that Rodriguez was handed Monday. Characteristically, Cuban used it as a jumping-off point to offer not only his thoughts on the suspension, but his general opinions on Major League Baseball and commissioner Bud Selig, who he seems to have a bit of a checkered past with.

“Horrible,” Cuban said of Rodriguez’s suspension. “I think it’s disgraceful what Major League Baseball is trying to do to him. Look, it’s not that he doesn’t deserve to be suspended. He does. They have policies in place: A first-time offender is 50 games, and a second time is 100. [Two hundred and eleven games], that’s personal.”

Cuban’s comments aren’t necessarily surprising given his history with MLB. In 2008, he put in a bid for $1.3 billion to buy the Cubs, but was denied. In 2009, he tried again with the Rangers as he placed a bid upwards of $600 million, but was rejected a second time.

His latest comments probably won’t help him if he tries buying a team for a third time.

“I’ve got to tell you, with my experiences with Major League Baseball — and after all of this, there’s no chance I’m getting to buy a team — it’s basically become Bud Selig’s mafia,” Cuban said. “He runs it the way he wants to run it. They don’t want me to own a team. When I was trying the buy the Rangers, even after the Cubs, when I was trying to buy the Texas Rangers, it was an open option.

“I sat in there with my good, hard-earned money trying to bid, and they did everything possible to keep me from buying the team. They had lawyers in there trying to change the rules; they had people trying to put up more money. It was horrible.”

If you’ve never heard of him until now, you’re likely not alone, but the junior high schooler may soon be making a name for himself. On Thursday, Ruggles drained 135 3-pointers in five minutes, which is apparently a new world record, according to the YouTube video description. On top of that, Ruggles made 92 percent (135-for-147) of his attempts from long range in those five minutes. Not too shabby.

Davies, a Boston College graduate, comes to New England on loan from Denmark’s Randers FC. The Revs traded their final selection in the 2014 MLS SuperDraft to D.C. United to haul in the striker.

“Charlie is an exciting, dynamic player who we believe can excel with us,” Revolution general manager Michael Burns said in a statement. “He’s a local product who’s been on our radar since his teenage years, so we’re pleased the opportunity arose to bring him to our club. Charlie’s arrival will give us more options on the field, and will hopefully be a great boost as we head into the final few months of the season in search of a playoff berth.”

The 27-year-old Manchester, N.H., native has played for Randers FC since the beginning of the 2012-13 season, appearing in 23 games but scoring zero goals. Previously, Davies played on loan for D.C. United in 2011, when he scored 11 goals in 26 appearances. He has also played for France’s FC Sochaux, Sweden’s Hammarby — where he scored 21 goals in 56 appearances — and the Westchester Flames during his professional career.

In 2009, Davies was involved in a one-car crash in suburban Washington D.C., which left an occupant of the vehicle dead and Davies seriously injured. Due to the severity of his injuries, Davies was unable to join the U.S. national team for the 2010 World Cup. He didn’t return back to the field until February 2012 in a game for Sochaux.

The acquisition should be a boost for the Revolution, who are now in sixth place in the Eastern Conference standings, just three points behind fifth-place Houston for a playoff spot with 12 games left in the regular season.